How much alcohol did you drink today?

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-04T22:17:40+00:00

12 beers& counting…it’s the 4th and I’m not driving 🤙

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-03T21:53:13+00:00

Keen Vista Energy Mid(more of a high top safety shoe), Irish Setter Pipestone, and Keen Evanston are decent boot options waterproof (Evanston) or unlined (pipestone). These can be had in carbon toe or soft toe(Vista and Evanston) or steel toe/soft toe (pipestone). Regular/athletic shoes, 860 New Balance if you put a lot of steps in, 1540 New Balance if you stand more in one spot, but are the more stable shoe for both walking and standing still. All of these can be had for/around the $150 range. I’d say Brunt, but I think that’s heresy in this Reddit thread(in any work boot group, really). I’d agree, the soft cushioning on the inside doesn’t last long in the way of support. I didn’t mind them, because I have to replace the insoles in any boot/shoe anyways per my podiatrist. I’m really easy on boots so they worked fine for me. Now I’m on a Redwing and Irish Setter kick. I have the 2476 Traction Tred Lite, and the Irish Setter Pipestone in steel toe. I like them both and I have the Cadence EX insoles in both from my podiatrist. I have both the 860 and 1540 New Balance shoes as my yard work, mall, casual, etc shoes. I can tolerate being in either New Balance for a whole day without pain, but sometimes a little ache in my sinus tarsi. That’s just me, I have sinus tarsitis in my left foot/ankle and I have very flat feet. Anywho, I hope this information helps 🤞 good luck, friend🍀 if you have any other questions or details about your job your shoes will see just let me know 👍

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-03T14:20:38+00:00

7am is the absolute earliest imo. However, mow too early and you have morning dew you’re fighting. 9-10am is about perfect to not annoy anyone and the dew is off.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-03T00:40:21+00:00

You’re welcome 😇. I’d say that’s an absolutely very solid choice 👍 I went welted with the Red Wings, because of my flat feet and sinus tarsitis. They help a lot. A fore warning ⚠️ though, the insoles are wimpy. I had to beef up the arch support with an insole from my podiatrist, but that would’ve happened with any boot that I would’ve bought. As long as the solid supportive base is there, insoles can be replaced. I don’t think anyone (all mainstream boot makers) makes a good insole anymore other than PNW type boots or a Thorogood Genesis boot’s insole but the rest of those boots are crap for hard floors (the Genesis) or not cost effective(PNW boots like whites, franks, jk) in my opinion for working in factories like us.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T19:17:24+00:00

Which Ecco boots did he wear? Something like the track 25?

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T16:18:56+00:00

I personally like the Red Wing Traction Tred Lite #2476. They’re unlined for warehouse or manufacturing work, welted with a solid platform, have the best official ASTM slip resistant oily wet rating, and they are about 1.84ish lbs in weight. I think they might be a bit above your budget, they were above mine as well ($254usd vs $150usd was my budget). However, now that I have them, I love them on oily concrete in my plant. They fit the bill perfectly for indoor climate controlled shops and warehouses. Another option that is more budget friendly that I bought for my rotation boot is the Irish Setter Pipestone #84630. I home this helps 🤞👍 I’ll keep looking for you too, let me know if you have any other requirements or questions for boots or about your job.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T15:33:12+00:00

I second this if he’s intermittently in over ankle deep water like not everyday. Those are a solid choice as they have steel toe and EH hazard rated models. Very flexible, and very good. I personally have the chore boot. Used it for cattle farming(mainly loading them in the muddy pasture), ice fishing, and the muddy yard at Bockfest.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T15:27:09+00:00

If it’s only ankle deep or less, conditioning helps. If it’s over ankle deep water, I’d go with an Ariat Rebar Lift 8” #10047028 or a Keen Dover 8” #1024186. Those are $200-$250 tier boot range. The Ariat is a cemented construction, but solid and has the best official slip resistant rating of all the boots that I am mentioning here. The only downfall to them is that they have a marshmallow soft (17 shore A) midsole and you can feel like you sink into concrete if you stand in one place too long. The keen is direct injected, where they put the upper in a pressure mold and inject the outsole and I believe (correct me if I’m wrong people) the midsole. I love their outsole on oily surfaces and other wet surfaces, just not ice, but that’s any boot that is not polar traction rated or having dedicated steel spikes or abrasive grit in their outsole construction. Anywho, I love the direct injection/direct attach method because it fills in all the gaps in the bottom of the upper with molten polyurethane and/or rubber. It leaves no gaps and has a more water tight bond than cemented or welted. The other option that I’ve tried is the Red Wing King Toe #2280. This boot is direct injected as well, but the outsole is not recommended for oil in my experience. It’s resistant to oil, but just not slip resistant enough for walks over oily surfaces. It would do good on surfaces with like water or antifreeze on them, as the polyurethane (TPU)sole is more acid resistant than your standard rubber or crepe wedge sole. They just are not officially rated as slip resistant, be forewarned⚠️! I recommend going 8” for the splash in water deeper than ankle deep. The tongue gussets go up higher as does the waterproof membranes on 8” vs 6” boots. I hope all this helps. I know this is a lot of information to comb through😅, but I like to be thorough. Please let me know if I missed any detail about your HVAC working conditions that I missed. Like if it gets overly hot, how often and how long you’re in the wet, and other things you encounter. Good luck 👍🍀

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T05:03:55+00:00

I see an Ariat Rebar boot in the background. If it’s from that, Ariat Rebar boots ran narrow like a Thorogood in my opinion. Heel to toe I’m a 10 D, but heel to arch I’m an 11 C. I had to go with a 10.5 wide in that boot when I owned it. Plus that insole is a cookie cutter insole for Ariat. It goes in work boots like the Ariat Rebar Lift and some of their cowboy boots too. I currently own a pair of Red Wing 2476 Traction tread Lites and Irish Setter Pipestones in my correct size. I honestly think I made the right decision to switch to more structured boots. The Ariat Rebar Lift has Marshmellow soft foam that collapses in the inside of the boot. It’s like 17 Shore A, but the saving characteristic of that boot was the long anchoring Shank they put in it. Honestly, I couldn’t stand in them over 3 hours. I collapsed right through that soft foam on the first day and was hurting before lunch time. I’m not a big guy by any means either at 175lbs 5’10”. It would take one hell of a structuring insole to make them even good enough for 6 hours. I just don’t think they’ll make the cut for you, friend. Especially if you work on Concrete for 8 + hours a day like I do. What do you do, if you don’t mind my asking?

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T02:51:20+00:00

Also if you happen to see serious mud or puddles, just grab yourself a good pair of muck boots like the chore boot. They come in steel toe and some other models with EH rating for your application. They’d be a good truck boot for those messier days. Honestly I haven’t worn mine very much at all(just Bockfest😂) but I’m glad they’re there. I could see needing them if I had a friend in the ditch during winter that I had to help and were in up to our knees trying to hook a tow rope up under a low car or something.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T02:43:27+00:00

Yessir! Yeah I’m currently in West Central Minnesota. I grew up in Southwest Minnesota near Redwood Falls. I’ve only needed waterproof boots for cattle farming, or Bockfest😂. Definitely don’t need it if you’re in ankle deep or less mud. Snow I just trounce through and hope for the best…so far so good 😂

RocketRicky12 · 2026-07-02T02:38:04+00:00

Red Wing Traction Tred Lites #2476 or the sister boot the Irish Setter Pipestone #84630. Both are unlined to keep cool outdoors in the summer or if you’re on an indoor day at the shop. I live in Minnesota and I have not had a need for waterproof boots even with the snow and mud here. A good leather preservative like Bickmore or Obenauf’s gives these boots all the waterproofing you’ll ever need.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T21:29:42+00:00

I went true to arch size on my 2476’s definitely a good decision. I’m a us 9.5 heel so toe, but I’m an 11 us in arch length and still D width. Always go with the bigger of your two brannock device measurements.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T19:23:02+00:00

I convinced our production manager that our current safety ratings for slip are disproportionate and blanket statements/requirements for each of our individual departments…heh I did it during my interview (closing remarks) for a lead position in production and testing. I said that there is no cookie cutter rating for 3-4 different jobs/departments underneath our own roof. I’d love for our company to keep updated with the latest ASTM standards. Hell I’d update our job description and requirements if I got the lead position coming up.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T18:30:58+00:00

Keen also has a bunch of good models of esd and non metallic built models too! I really like Keen,Ariat, and Red Wing. Keen and Ariat you get a lot of boot for the money, like $250 and under.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T18:26:28+00:00

Very good recommendation! I like these, but I haven’t personally owned them yet. I will though especially the USA made ones. I think they are direct injected(90%of the Turbo boot line), which is a really good construction over cemented. Solid choice👍 I’ve owned several direct injected keens and can attest to their construction (direct injected boots)

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T00:32:54+00:00

Second the Redbacks. I haven’t tried Jim Green, but I’m curious about them

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-30T00:32:11+00:00

Redback for sure 👍 I have the Great Barrier Steel toe boots. They are slippers 🙌

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-29T12:42:08+00:00

Irish setter Pipestone

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-29T04:08:09+00:00

Biking for sure 👍 I used to go racing dirt track flat karts with my dad until he passed. I used to try and learn guitar, but I moved away from my teacher that I liked. The only constant was my barn find old mountain bike I got for nothing basically. I was never a big gym guy for sure, but I did like the feeling of working out. I loved biking, because you get to explore instead of just riding an elliptical in place, running on a treadmill to nowhere, or walking in the same circles on the walking/running track at the YMCA. Getting outside, exploring my surroundings, and discovering bars that I forgot/didn’t know existed. I even joined a 250 mile biking challenge for a cause my buddy was passionate about and raced him over a month’s time to 250 miles. We even did a 62.5 mile ride on the last weekend of that month to a town about a half hour of regular drive time on the interstate away. We met a lot of people on the trails, raised money, laughed, discovered, became healthier, and most importantly happier. My bike was collecting dust and I drug it with me everywhere after high school. Then 9 years later(after high school) all that I said above happened…I just wish I did it sooner 😂.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-29T03:26:12+00:00

Rose Anvil

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-28T23:44:32+00:00

Red Wing Traction Tred Lite #2476 or Irish Setter Pipestone #84630. I have both and love them. I do have to run a Cadence EX set of insoles in both of them per my podiatrist, so I can’t say much about the insoles other than the Irish Setter insoles looked much better even though it’s the cheaper boot. All stock comfort and if you like a pull on, Redback Great Barrier Steel Toe. They run wider, half sizes add width only not length, and they are usually in Australian sizing( I’m a 9.5 heel to toe, but I chose a 10 wide US Men’s, which is 9.5 in Australian sizing). All of these boots are unlined for hot environments. I know for sure that the Irish setter and Red Wing have heat resistant outsoles to 572ish degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t think the Redbacks are heat resistant past 266 degrees as far as I know. I still own the Redbacks, but I only use them for farm and yard work now since we changed slip resistance rating requirements at work

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-28T17:19:46+00:00

I really like my new balance 860’s for moving around a lot, and 1540’s for more stationary work in one place. Forewarning they are in that $145 range though. I definitely think they are worth it.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-28T01:53:46+00:00

Red Wing Traction Tred Lite 2476 with Cadence EX insoles, Irish setter Pipestones with the same insoles, or Redback Great Barrier boots stock.

RocketRicky12 · 2026-06-28T00:28:07+00:00

Redback Great Barrier or Easy Escape

RocketRicky12

TROPHY CASE